The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Turkey’s stance in the region of Southern and Eastern Mediterranean as well as the issue of integration of the Western Balkan countries were the main focus of the working dinner held between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels. The Prime Minister arrived at the Belgian capital from Paris, where he had previously met with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
The dinner began at 21.30, local Greek time, at the seat of the European Council and in a particularly welcoming atmosphere, given the good relations between the two men. Mr. Mitsotakis, who is the first Prime Minister of an EU Member State to meet with Mr. Michel regarding the MFF, engaged in a detailed discussion on the resources to be received by our country from the new European budget for the period 2021 – 2027.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mitsotakis, elaborating on his political thinking, stressed to Mr. Michel that his government should be supported by the EU, as the first metapopulist government in the country. It is the Prime Minister’s aim to help Greece stand on its feet again, among cohesion countries and net contributors, in an environment of difficult negotiations. Under these circumstances, the meeting with the President of the European Council has been particularly significant, as Mr. Michel has taken upon himself to find a scalpel-like solution to the Community budget, by concluding bilateral contacts with the leaders of the 27 Member States.
Indeed, the new European Budget for 2021 – 2027 is currently the central topic of discussions in Brussels. To this end, the convening of an emergency Summit on February 20 was announced last Saturday.
Moreover, extensive discussions regarding Turkey, Libya and the expansion of the Western Balkans were also held, in view of the upcoming regular Summit in March.
